I'm glad you went for the violet. I hope it works out beautifully.

Has anyone tried on the Uniqlo ultralight down compact coat? This looked like a good choice under the EF but I'm not sure how their sizing runs. I am usually a 4-6. http://www.uniqlo.com/us/produ...../outerwear...~ Does anyone have any input? Thanks.

I'm so glad you went with the violet! *Happy dance*

This coat is going to make packing a snap. You can focus on neutral underneath -- grays, whites, black, navy, denim. Will look awesome with a turtleneck, or toss on a pretty, colorful scarf (blues, pink, fuchsia, red, citron/yellow, plums) and you are good to go -- the coat will go with everything AND elevate everything.

viva, hope you didn't mind me playing the anti-shopper. The violet is a really good choice.

gryffin, I have a Uniqlo ultralite compact jacket and I think it's great. It shed a few feathers to begin with but it soon settled down (haha). Can't comment on the sizing, but I think it's worth stalking that product line to see what different styles and colours they come up with.

Approprio, I appreciate your intervention and the challenges you presented. It's important for me to think things through - and even if my ultimate decision is sometimes not wholly rational, I feel better if I've had to consider it thoroughly. So thank you! And please keep telling it as you see it.

Black wool coats are brutal for travel anyways . Always full of lint , pet hair , assorted travelling debris etc . I feel like a hot mess in one .

Sorry to be late! I tried this coat - IRL it is more purple than violet, it's weighty and it was way too big on me in a regular size. Even if it fit I'm not sure I would have kept it - it's quite structured and I felt lost in it. I hope you have better luck.

ETA: I see you tried it already and know your size - good news!

LOL, Lisap, so true! My burberry has to be constantly brushed to remove road salt, blonde hair, and light-colored sweater fibers. Drives me nuts but I do love the fit and warmth. It replaced my cobalt Jcrew coat that had thinsulate. That coat was a workhorse and a favorite for soooo many years!! But I could not hold out much longer for a substantially warm wool coat that fit well and was not black.... so I went with black....

If the red AT coat had thinsulate and longer sleeves, that would be the one I'd be wearing all winter instead. It reminds me a lot of my cobalt Jcrew coat... just not as warm.

I haven't read the whole thread so not sure the outcome. I would purchase the coat 100%. In the Violet!
When travelling it is terrible to consider each time the flaws of the coats and having to compromise, bring extra items. How lovely would it be to have that Go To item that you know works.
That being said, I love coats and have a few (and I no longer do any travel for work).